Rashawn's Story

In hopes of finding a counseling program that incorporated a faith based learning curriculum, Rashawn McCraney looked to Malone University and found just what he needed.

McCraney is a graduate of Malone’s Master of Arts in Education: Counseling and Human Development program and is a school counselor in the Akron Public School district.

The main goal that McCraney strived to accomplish was to be able to provide his students with the best counseling possible. In order to provide this, he knew that his faith would have to come into play.

“Since my faith is a huge part of my life, I needed to learn how to use my faith in the counseling setting to make a difference in the lives of those I helped,” said McCraney.

The curriculum of the Master of Arts in Education: Counseling and Human Development program at Malone teaches students how to incorporate their faith with the knowledge that they acquire during their program. By taking this approach, students are able to look at scenarios and situations that they may encounter from multiple perspectives.

“Every day I fall back on something I learned from Malone,” said McCraney. “Whether it be from the classroom, practicum, or my internship, Malone prepared me and gave me a voice as a leader.”

When life threw McCraney a curve ball, the staff and students that he interacted with regularly supported him every step of the way.

“I can’t speak enough about the supportive staff at Malone,” said McCraney. “I’ll never forget how kind and helpful they were throughout the program and during my time of need.”

Not only did McCraney build positive relationships with staff, but he also built lasting relationships with his classmates.

“I became good friends with many of my classmates. We continue to support each other even though we’re gone from Malone,” he said.

McCraney found that his education provided him with more than just knowledge and skills.

“In order to lead and help others, you have to know yourself,” said McCraney. “During my program, I became more aware of who I was and in turn grew as an individual and a professional.”